Grand Rapids' worst tattoos: Cast your vote

Chris Miller, owner of Wicked Ways Tattoos, works on a tattoo cover up for Daniel James of Byron Center on Tuesday, March 12 at the Plainfield tattoo studio. Wicked Ways is partnering with 97.9 WGRD in a Grand Rapids Worst Tattoo contest. Participants send in photos of their worst tattoos and viewers get to vote on the most hideous. The winner gets a free tattoo cover up from Wicked Ways.
(Emily Zoladz | Mlive.com)

GRAND RAPIDS, MI-- Do you regret that magenta tattoo of a unicorn on your forearm that looks like a 5-year-old drew it? Does your wrist say "Jenny Forever," but your former girlfriend's era has come and gone? Wicked Ways Tattoo and 97.9 WGRD may be able to help you out.

The Grand Rapids Worst Tattoos contest runs until Wednesday, March 13 at midnight. Submit a photo of your botched tattoo and enter for the chance to win a free tattoo cover-up by Wicked Ways.

"We see a ton of bad tattoos," said Wicked Ways owner Chris Miller. "I think a lot of people try to get tattooed by their friends ... you know, at the trailer park or the kitchen table."

Miller says some tattoos are pretty hideous. "I can't even begin to describe ... just giant blobs, and botched cover-ups."

Tattoos are meant to be permanent, and removal with a laser isn't always a guarantee. In addition to the risk of regret, having an unlicensed person tattoo you can cause infection, experts say.

The Michigan Department of Community Health issued an ordinance in 2010 requiring individuals to obtain a body art facility license through the state health department in order to tattoo, brand or perform body piercing on another individual.

"I talk to the Kent County Health Department about it all the time," Miller said, "but it's hard to regulate."

Cover-ups are popular at Wicked Ways. Miller says name tattoos are one of the biggest offenders. He works with customers to pick colors and shades which match the offending tattoo and tries to come up with something they will like. One man had to cover a tattoo of a pin-up girl because his wife didn't want him to have it anymore.

WGRD listeners can cast their vote for the worst tattoo by visiting the radio's gallery from March 14-19. A winner will be chosen and announced on March 20.